Underrun protection for vehicles

ABSTRACT

An underrun protection intended for vehicles, includes a stiff sheet unit attachable to the vehicle including on one hand a first box, which is composed of a bottom wall and a border located along the periphery thereof, and which is articulatedly connected to a fastening unit attached to the vehicle in order to be able to be turned between a folded-down position and a folded-out position in which the space under the platform of the vehicle is made accessible, and on the other hand a second box which is intended for enclosing an information carrier and which includes a transparent sheet and a frame surrounding the same, the frame being articulatedly connected to the border of the first box in order to be able to be turned between a folded-in position in the first box and a folded-out position in which the information carrier is exchangeable.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an underrun protection for vehicles of thetype that includes a wheel-carried chassis having a platform or thelike, the underrun protection comprising a stiff sheet unit fastenableon the vehicle having the purpose of partly covering the free spaceunder the platform, thereby counteracting running-in under the platformby other vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Along the two long sides of such vehicles as lorries, there is a freespace between the front wheel sets and rear wheel sets and under thepart of the platform of the vehicle that protrudes from the chassis orthe frame work constituting a risk factor in regard of road safety in sofar that other vehicles, such as private cars, two-wheelers and thelike, may drive into the same and become wedged up under the projectingplatform section. In this connection, the platform section may give riseto serious personal injuries. In order to avoid such underrun accidents,the vehicles may be provided with particular underrun protections thatessentially extend in flush with the long sides of the platform oraddition in order to cover most of the space between the front and rearwheels. However, previously known underrun protections are permanentlyimmovably fixed in relation to the vehicle chassis, more precisely bythe covering sheet unit being stiffly united to a fastening unit, whichis in turn stiffly connected to the chassis, e.g. by means of welded orbolt joints. The fact that the underrun protection is fixed in a givenposition makes it difficult or impossible to practically utilize thestorage box or storage boxes that usually are mounted on the chassis inthe area immediately under the platform. Another shortcoming of theknown underrun protections is that the same are not suitable forexposing commercial and/or information messages, in spite of the factthat the same are well visible, for instance from the side of thevehicle.

OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims at obviating the above-mentioned shortcomingsof the previously known underrun protections and at providing animproved underrun protection. Thus, a primary object of the invention isto provide an underrun protection that on one hand enables simple andconvenient access to such storage boxes that according to the standardpractice are found on the frame works of, for instance, lorries and onthe other hand is suitable for clear exposure of information messages.Another object of the invention is to provide an underrun protectionthat permits exchange of the desired information or commercial messagesin a fast and convenient way. Furthermore, said message should bepossible to illuminate with the purpose of making the sameextraordinarily well visible.

According to the invention, at least the primary object is attained bythe features defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Preferredembodiments of the underrun protection according to the invention arefurthermore defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle using the underrun protectionaccording to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an underrun protection seen obliquelyfrom behind,

FIG. 3 is a partial section showing the sheet unit of the underrunprotection in a folded-down, fixed and active underrun-protectingposition,

FIG. 4 is an analogous section showing the sheet unit of the underrunprotection in a folded-out position,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross-section through said sheet unit, alight box included in the same being shown let-in in an outer box, and

FIG. 6 is an analogous cross-section showing the light box partlyturned-out from the outer box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, a vehicle in the form of a lorry is shown having a chassis 1being carried by front and rear wheel sets 2 and 3, respectively. On thechassis, which is illustrated in the form of two channel irons in FIGS.3 and 4, a platform 4 or a house-like addition is mounted. Although thedetail 4 (in FIGS. 3 and 4) may consist of a bottom to the vehicleaddition, the concept “platform” will henceforth be used exclusively,for the sake of simplicity. As is clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a partof the platform protrudes laterally from the chassis 1, the outer longside edge of the platform being situated approximately in flush with theoutside of outer wheels in the rear wheel set of the vehicle.

As is seen in FIG. 1, an underrun protection, in its entirety designated5, is arranged in the space between the front and the rear wheel sets 2,3. The same includes on one hand a sheet unit, in its entiretydesignated 6 (see FIG. 2), and on the other hand two fastening units 7that are mountable onto the vehicle, more precisely underneath theplatform 4.

The inside of the sheet unit 6 will be more closely described below,reference being made to FIGS. 5 and 6. Initially, reference is howevermade to FIGS. 2–4, which illustrate the mounting of the sheet unit onthe vehicle.

In the example, the sheet unit 6 is carried by two spaced-apartfastening units that are located near the front and rear short ends ofthe sheet unit. The individual fastening unit 7 includes a crossbar 8extending transverse to the plane of the sheet unit, which crossbar ispermanently attached in a given position underneath the platform 4, e.g.by means of a bolted or welded joint (not shown). In the illustrated,preferred embodiment, the crossbar 8 consists of a first box profileinto which a second, thinner box profile 9 is inserted. Said second boxprofile 9 is displaceably movable inside the first box profile 8 andlockable in different positions in relation to the same, e.g. by meansof one or more bolts 10 insertable in selected holes in a series ofholes 11 in the box profile 8. At the free outer end thereof, the boxprofile 9 has a main hinge 12 around which the sheet unit 6 is turnable.Said main hinge may advantageously consist of a robust dowel mounted ina bushing. On the backside or inside of the sheet unit 6, a guide 13 isarranged for each fastening unit, e.g. in the form of a flange-providedchannel bar. Into this guide 13, an arm 14, to which the main hinge 12is connected, is inserted, and which is adjustable and lockable indifferent axial positions in the guide. Locking of the arm in relationto the guide may be carried out by means of one or more bolts or pins15. By the guide 13 and the arm 14 being mutually movable, the sheetunit 6 may be set in different level positions in relation to thefastening unit 7 and platform 4, respectively.

Underneath the box profile 9, a fixed shoulder 16 is applied, againstwhich the arm 14 is pressable in order to be located perpendicularly tosaid box profile. In this connection, it should be pointed out that thelower flange of the box profile 9 is partly cut off in order to housethe upper end of the arm 14. The main hinge 12 permits turning of thesheet unit in the direction outwards/upwards to the laterally folded-outstate that is shown in FIG. 4. However, in the folded-down stateaccording to FIG. 3, the arm 14 is stopped in a vertically pendentposition by means of the stop shoulder 16.

Between the individual box profile 8 and the guide profile 13, adiagonal bracing 17 serving as a push rod extends, the inner end ofwhich is connected to an ear 19 on the bottom side of the box profile 8via a hinge 18, while the opposite end is connected to an ear 21 on theinner side of the guide profile 13 via a second hinge 20. The hinge 20is in the form of a quick-action lock, e.g. in the form of a pin, whichis insertable in a key hole-like opening 22 in the ear (see FIG. 5).

As is seen in FIG. 2, the ear 21 is located near the lower end of theguide profile 13, i.e. near the lower edge of the sheet unit 6, whilethe ear 19 is located in the immediate vicinity of the inner end of thebox profile 8. By the location of the ears, the diagonal bracing 17obtains a maximum length in order to be able to absorb great forces thatare applied to the sheet unit from outside. Furthermore, it should bepointed out that the diagonal bracing 17 includes two parts, adjustablymovable in relation to each other, in the form of telescopic tubes 23,23′ that may be locked in a desired position in relation to each otherby means of a locking screw 24 or the like. Thanks to the fact that thetelescopic tubes 23, 23′ are adjustably movable, the length of thediagonal bracing may be adapted to different mounting positions for thesheet unit. Said mounting positions depend on how much the slender boxprofiles 9 are protruded from the box profiles 8 as well as how far thearms 14 are put into the guide profiles 13.

Between the individual guide profile 13 and each box profile 9, a gasspring 25 acts with the purpose of at least facilitating turning of thesheet unit 6 in the direction outwards/upwards. Each such gas spring 25is connected to the sides of the profiles 9, 13 via pivot pins. In thebox profile 8, a slot 26 is recessed, into which the upper hinge of thegas spring may be inserted if the box profile 9 is to be inserted farinto in the box profile 8.

In this connection, it should be pointed out that the underrunprotection according to the invention also may be manufactured havingone single predetermined mounting position for the sheet unit 6. In thiscase, the pendent arm 14 may be in direct connection with the back sideof the sheet unit 6, and the fastening unit 7 made from one singlegirder or section.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5 and 6, which illustrate theconstruction of the sheet unit 6 more in detail. Principally, the sheetunit is composed of two mutually turnable boxes 27, 28, thefirst-mentioned one of which includes a bottom or inner wall 29, alongthe periphery of which a border 30 extends, which forms a rectangularframe that is outwardly open. The other box 28 includes a rectangularframe 31 in the form of an L-section having a gable flange 32 and afront flange 33. Said front flange 33 is comparatively slender and hasin the example a width that is smaller than the width of the gableflange 32. In flush with the front flange 33, a transparent sheet 34 ismounted, which is kept in place in the open space between the frontflanges 33 of the box by means of semi-rigid, sealings 35. Said sealings35, which may consist of rubber or the like, guarantee that moisturedoes not get into the interior of the sheet unit. Also at the inner edgeof the gable flanges 32 of the frame 31, a circumfering sealing 36 isarranged. It should in particular be observed that said sealing 36extends solely along the inner edges of the flanges 32 and that theinterior of the box 28 opens rearwards (against the bottom wall 29 ofthe box 27).

An information or advertising carrier 37, for instance consisting of asheet of board or paper or of a plastic film of a suitable thickness,may be applied against the bottom wall 29. On the outside of the carrier37, a message of the type that is outlined at 38 in FIG. 1 is printed orapplied in another way. Outside of the information carrier 37, a secondtransparent sheet 39 is arranged, e.g. in the form of a plastic sheetsuch as PLEXIGLAS®.

The outer corner of the frame 31 in the box 28 is connected to the outeredge of the lower border of the border piece 30 via a hinge 40. Via thehinge 40, the box 28 may be turned between on one hand a fully folded-inposition in the box 27 according to FIG. 5, and a folded-out positionaccording to FIG. 6. In practice, the box 28 should be possible to turnat least 180°, suitably 270°, in relation to the box 27.

The Function and the Advantages of the Underrun Protection According tothe Invention

When mounting the underrun protection, the two box profiles 8 areinitially fixed to the bottom side of the platform 4, and then the boxprofiles 9 are inserted so far into the box profiles 8 that the sheetunit 6 will hang down approximately in flush with the long side edge ofthe platform 4 (see FIG. 3). After this, the box profiles 9 are fixed bymeans of the mounting bolts 10 (or screws). Furthermore, the sheet unit6 is adjusted to the desired level by the fact that the guide profiles13 are brought to the desired position along the arms 14, and thenfixing is carried out by means of the mounting bolts 15 (or screws). Ina final step, the outer ends of the diagonal bracings 17 are connectedto the ears 21 positioned furthest down on the guide profiles 13. Whenthis is carried out, the telescopic tube 23′ is still displaceable inrelation to the telescopic tube 23. As soon as the length of thediagonal bracing has been determined by the quick coupling key 20 beingfixedly coupled into the ear 21, the telescopic tube 23 is, however,fixed by tightening of the locking screw 24, whereby the length of thediagonal bracing is finally settled. In this connection, it should bepointed out that the hinge 18 is permanently connected to the ear 19.

In the state described above, the sheet unit covers a large part of thefree space between the platform 4 and the ground under the vehicle,whereby running-in under the platform is counteracted.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, a storage box 41 is found on the vehicle according tothe standard practice, shown by means of dash-dotted lines. Said box islocated on the outside of the chassis 1 and near the bottom side of theplatform. As is seen in FIG. 3, the storage box is extraordinarilydifficult to reach when the sheet unit 6 of the underrun protection isfixed in the vertically pendent position thereof.

If access to a storage box 41 is desired, the sheet unit 6 is folded outto the position illustrated in FIG. 4. This may be effected by thesimple measure of releasing the quick coupling keys 20 and bringing thesheet to turn outwards/upwards. Such a folding-out may be effectedeither by means of solely the gas springs 25, if the same aresufficiently powerful, or by a combination of the action of the gassprings and manual lifting of the sheet unit.

When the use of the storage box is concluded, the sheet unit is againfolded down to the vertical, active state thereof. During thefolding-down, the stop shoulder 16 ensures that the sheet unit islocated in an exact vertical position, which implies that the ear 21 isimmediately located in the correct position for receipt of the quickcoupling key 20 when the diagonal bracing 17 is to be connected to thesheet unit 6 again.

If the information carrier 37 is to be replaced, the box 28 is foldedout of the box 27, and then the sheet 39 and the proper advertisingcarrier 37 is removed from the interior of the box 27. Depending on theexternal circumstances, the box may 28 be folded out at different anglesin relation to the box 27, e.g. 180° or 270°. During exchange of theadvertising carrier, the box 27 may either remain in the verticalposition thereof, or be folded out to the horizontal position shown inFIG. 4. In the next step, a new advertising carrier 37 is inserted alongwith a covering PLEXIGLAS® sheet 39, and then the box 28 is again foldedinto the box 27. When the box 28 is folded in, the same will, with thesealing 36 thereof, press the sheet 37 in the direction of the bottomwall 29 of the box 27, the advertising carrier 37 being fixedly clampedbetween the bottom wall 29 and the sheet 39. The seal 36 is elasticallypressed not only against the outside of the sheet 39, but also againstthe inside of the border 30.

In other words, exchange of advertising or information carrier may beeffected in a fast and convenient way.

With reference to FIG. 6, it should be pointed out that the box 28 haslamps 42 in the interior thereof, e.g. light emitting diodes, in orderto light up the interior of the box, thereby in a marked way making themessage on the advertising carrier 37 clear. As is seen in FIG. 6, saidlamps 42 are arranged comparatively close to each other at the inside ofthe frame 31 and directed inwards towards the centre of the box 28.

An important advantage of the invention is that access to storage boxesor other parts occurring on the chassis is not obstructed by thepresence of the underrun protection on the vehicle. Another advantage isthat the underrun protection in an effective way may be utilized inorder to expose an information or commercial message, a particularadvantage being the fact that exchange of the information-carrier may becarried out in a fast, simple and convenient way.

Feasible Modifications of the Invention

The invention is not solely limited to the embodiment described aboveand illustrated in the drawings. Thus, the underrun protection may in aparticularly simple and inexpensive version be manufactured without thepossibility of adjusting the sheet unit to different positions laterallyand vertically, respectively. It is also feasible to spare the gassprings, the sheet being manipulated in solely the manual way.

1. Underrun protection for vehicles of the type that includes a wheel-carried chassis (1) having a platform (4), comprising: a stiff sheet unit (6) fastenable on the vehicle and which has the purpose of partly covering the free space under the platform (4), thereby counteracting running-in under the platform by other vehicles, the sheet unit (6) comprising a first box (27), which is composed of a bottom wall (29) and a border (30) located along the periphery thereof, and which is articulatedly connected to at least one fastening unit (7) mountable on the vehicle in order to be able to be turned between a folded-down, underrun-protecting position, and a folded-out position in which the space under the platform (4) is made accessible, and a second box (28) for enclosing an information carrier (37) and which comprises a transparent sheet (34) and a frame (31) surrounding the same, said frame being articulatedly connected to the border (30) of the first box in order to be turned between a folded-in position in the first box (27) and a folded-out position in which the information carrier (37) is exchangeable, wherein the second box (28) of the sheet unit is inwardly open and provided with a circumfering sealing (36) arranged to be sealingly pressed against a transparent sheet (39) on the outside of the information carrier (37), as well as against the inside of the border (30) of the first box (27).
 2. Underrun protection according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fastening unit comprises two spaced-apart fastening units (7), each individually including a crossbar (8) which is fastenable on the bottom side of the platform (4) and to which an end of a diagonal bracing (17) is articulatedly connected, the opposite end of which being directly or indirectly detachably connected to the bottom part of the first box (27).
 3. Underrun protection according to claim 2, wherein between the crossbar and the first box (27), a gas spring (25) acts that always aims to turn the box out towards the folded-out position.
 4. Underrun protection according to claim 3, wherein the crossbar includes a first box profile (8), which is permanently attachable on the bottom side of the platform (4), and a more slender second box profile (9), which is displaceably inserted in the first box profile and lockable in the desired axial positions in relation to the same.
 5. Underrun protection according to claim 4, wherein the second box profile (9) is connected to an arm (14) at a free end via a main hinge (12), the sheet unit being adjustable and lockable in different positions in relation to the arm.
 6. Underrun protection according to claim 5, further comprising a stop shoulder (16) on the underside of the second box profile (9), which shoulder prevents the sheet unit from being turned inwards from a vertical position.
 7. Underrun protection according to claim 2, wherein the crossbar includes a first box profile (8), which is permanently attachable on the bottom side of the platform (4), and a more slender second box profile (9), which is displaceably inserted in the first box profile and lockable in the desired axial positions in relation to the same.
 8. Underrun protection according to claim 7, wherein the second box profile (9) is connected to an arm (14) at a free end via a main hinge (12), the sheet unit being adjustable and lockable in different positions in relation to the arm.
 9. Underrun protection according to claim 8, further comprising a stop shoulder (16) on the underside of the second box profile (9), which shoulder prevents the sheet unit from being turned inwards from a vertical position.
 10. Underrun protection according to claim 1, further comprising lamps (42) inside the second box (28) in order to light up the interior of the sheet unit.
 11. An underrun protection for a vehicle of the type that includes a wheel-carried chassis having a platform, comprising: a fastening unit adapted to be mounted on the vehicle; and a sheet unit that is attached to said fastening unit and that is adapted to cover at least part of a free space under the platform of the vehicle, said sheet unit having a first box with a bottom wall and a border along a periphery thereof, said first box being pivotally connected to said fastening unit so that said first box is movable between a folded-down, underrun-protecting position, and a folded-out position in which the space under the platform is accessible, said first box carrying an information carrier and a transparent sheet on said bottom wall, said sheet unit also having a second box that has a peripheral frame that nests inside said first box with an edge of said frame being adjacent to said bottom wall of said first box, said second box being pivotally connected to said border of said first box so that said second box is movable between a folded-in position inside said first box and a folded-out position in which said information carrier is accessible, said sheet unit also having a peripheral seal that is sealingly arranged between the edge of said second box and said transparent sheet and between the edge of said second box and an interior of said first box.
 12. The underrun protection according to claim 11, wherein said fastening unit comprises a first hollow member that is arranged to be attached to the platform, a second member that is displaceably inserted inside said first hollow member, and a lock that secures said second member at a selected position inside said first hollow member.
 13. The underrun protection according to claim 12, wherein said fastening unit further comprises an arm that is pivotally connected to a free end of said second member, said first box being connected to said arm so that said sheet unit is movable between the folded-down and the folded-out positions.
 14. The underrun protection according to claim 13, wherein said second member comprises a stop shoulder adjacent to said arm that prevents said sheet unit from being turned inwards to a folded-in position. 